Automatic shingle stacker



June 1, 1965 G. H. WILLIAMSON AUTOMATIC SHINGLE STACKER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Jan. 15, 1962 ow v M IIJ Md h. IA

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INVENTOR. GEORGE H.W\u.mu\sou 41- ATTORNEY June 1, 1965 G. H. WILLIAMSONAUTOMATIC SHINGLE STACKER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 15, 1962 INVENTOR.Gnome H.W||.|.|AM$ on ATTORNEY J1me 1965 K G. H. WILLIAMSON 3,18 65AUTOMATIC SHINGLE STACKER Filed Jan. 15, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYJune 1965 G. H. WILLIAMSON 3,186,565

AUTOMATIC SHINGLE STACKER Filed Jan. 15, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.GIORGE H.W| LLIAMSou ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,186,565 1 AUTOMATICHINGLE STACKER George H. Williamson, Somerville, NIL, assignor to.lohns-Manville Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New YorkFiled Jan. 15, 1962, Ser. No. 166,335 (Ilairns. (Cl. 214-6) This is acontinuation-in-part of application for Letters Patent Serial No.69,905, filed November 17 1960, for Automatic Shingle Take-Off. SerialNo. 69,905 relates to a method and apparatus for stacking asphaltshingles, and the like, into bundles of a convenient size for handlingand shipping.

Disclosed in the above-mentioned application are two similarrotary catchpans having an equal number of radially disposed arms or plates mountedfor counter rotation on parallel axes adjacent the end of the conveyorof a shingle manufacturing line. The rotary catch pans receive theshingles from the conveyor, and after timed intervals of predeterminedcount, are indexed a quarter turn to drop the shingles to a rotary tablebelow; If the shingle dimensions are uniform, the stack of shingles onthe table may he transferred directly to a removal conveyor. If theshingles are thicker along one elongated edge, because of a thick buttportion or because of an adhesive stripe thereon, the table isintermittently rotated 180 after each indexing movement of the catchpans. This results in a final bundle comprising a plurality of stacks ofshingles alternately arranged so that the thicker edge of eachconsecutive stack lies on alternate sides of the bundle.

t has been found that while the rotary catch pans of the above-mentionedapplication can readily handle shingles manufactured at maximum linespeed, it is difficult to rapidly rotate the table 180 in order toaccommodate such high speed manufacturing, due to the relatively greatmass of the table and the relatively long distance through which theouter edge thereof must travel.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved automatic shingle stacker for stacking asphalt shingles and thelike, having one elongated edge thicker than the opposite parallel edge,in a staggered or alternate manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel method forstacking asphalt shingles, and the like, which shingles have oneelongated edge thicker than the opposite parallel edge.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic shinglestacker for stacking shingles having one elongated side edge thereofthicker than the opposite parallel edge, said stacker being capable ofhandling shingles manufactured at maximum line speed.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an automatic shinglestacker which is relatively simple in design, efiicient in operation,and economical to manufacture.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel reciprocatingcarriage for use in an automatic shingle stacking machine.

Briefly, the invention contemplates substituting a reciprocatingcarriage and a stationary tablefor the rotary table disclosed in SerialNo. 69,905. Thecarriage is reciprocated into position beneath the rotarycatch pans in timed relation to the indexing thereof to receive a firstpredetermined number of shingles dropped by the rotary catch pans. Thecarriage is then retracted to a position remote from the shinglereceiving position, and is rotated 180 about a horizontal axis while asecond predetermined number of shingles is dropped by the rotary catchpans to the stationary table. The carriage is again moved to a position,beneath the rotary catch pans, at which posi- 3,1855% herniated June 1,19 55 ion it drops the previously received stack of shingles to thestationary table, and receives another stack of shingles dropped by therotary catch pans. The carriage is then retracted to its remote positionagain. This sequence of operations is continued until a predeterminednumber of "ice ' stacks have been deposited on the table, at which timethe shingles are transferred from the table to a removal conveyor. Inthis manner, a relatively large stack or bundle of shingles is formed ofrelatively small stacks of shingles alternately arranged so that thethicker edges of consecutive stacks are on opposite sides of the bundle.

The reciprocating carriage is relatively light in weight, as compared tothe rotary table of the above-mentioned application, and it travels alesser distance from remote position to shingle receiving position thanthe rotary table travels during rotation of 180". In addition, thecarriage does not have to be positioned under the rotary catch pansduring every indexing movement thereof, but only during every otherindexing movement. Due to these features, the shingle stacking apparatusof the present'invention can operate at higher speeds and greatereiiiciency than the rotary table type of apparatus disclosed in theabovementioned application.

The nature of the invention will be more full understood and otherobjects may become apparent, when the following detailed description isconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan viewof the rotary catch pans positioned adjacent theend of the conveyor of a shingle manufacturing line;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of FIG. 1, showing the rotarycatch pans and the reciprocating carriage;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the automatic shingle stacker, showing therotary catch pans, the stacking table, and the take-off conveyor;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the reciprocating carriage with the top coverplate thereof removed for clarity;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view on line 55 of FIG. 4, showing thereciprocating carriage with the top cover plate included; and

FIGS. 6A to 6B are diagrammatical views illustrating the sequence ofoperations of the automatic shingle stacker.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, rotary catch pans 10 and12 are positioned adjacent the end of a conveyor 14 of a shinglemanufacturing line, not shown. The rotary catch pans 10 and 12 compriseparallel shafts 16 and 18, which are approximately parallel to thedirection of movement of the conveyor 14 and are mounted in bearings 20and 22. Arms or plates 24 and 26 radiate at intervals from the shafts l6and 18 so that when the plates are positioned as illustrated in FIG. 2,adjacent horizontal plates form the support of a shingle receivingcompartment, and the upper vertical plates act as shingle guide walls.The ends of the plates 24 and 26 most remote from the conveyor 14 areconnected to discs or plates 28' and 39 which serve to limit themovement of the shingles as they are deposited into the compartmentformed by the radially disposed plates. To eliminate bounce-back of theshingles, a plate 32 is fixed to the shaft 16 at the end adjacent theconveyor 14, and is of such dimensions that the shingles will clear theplate when they are fed into the catch pans but will contact the plateupon bouncing back from limit plates 28 and 3h. Disposed at right anglesto. the shaft 18 and fixed to the plates 26 are two projecting strips 34which are so located that the slots commonly provided in shingles willbe positioned adjacent thereto. Ifthe shingle is provided with two suchslots, the leading edges of the central and rear flaps formed by theslots will rest on the projecting strips 34 to prevent the slots of ashingle from catching on the next lower shingle as it is deposited intothe rotary the plates 24 and 26 adjacent.

even though the compartment formed by the catch pans V is not properlyaligned with the path of travel of the shingles as they leave theconveyor.

Positioned betweenthe end of the conveyor blend the rotary catch pans 16and 12 is a plate 49 for supporting the shingles as they move from theconveyor to the.

Positioned above and on'either side of the support plate 40 are upperand side guide plates 42, 44-

.catch pans.

58. A continuously driven-motor 60 drives the indexing unit 58 throughgears 62 and 64. The indexing unit 58 may take any convenient form suchas a' combination clutch and brake unit in which normally, the brake ison and the clutch is disengaged, but, upon receiving an electricalimpulse, the clutch is engaged and the brake is taken oif. Theelectrical impulse may be supplied by any suitablemeans such as anelectric eye, for example, which may take the form of a, transmitter 66and a receiver 68 positioned so that the beam of light extendingtherebetween is broken by a shingle as it leaves the conveyor 14. Thestructure thus far described is disclosed in the above-mentionedapplication in a more specific manner.

In accordance with the present invention, -a projection or cam 70 isprovided on each of the. plates 26 atthe end thereof adjacent theconveyor 14. A limit switchLSl is positioned adjacent the catch pan 12so that a cam 79,1

whenthe plate on which it is mounted is in the lower vertical position,will contact and close the switch. A

cam 72 is positioned'on one of the-plates 24 of the catch pan 10adjacent the conveyor 14. and is adapted to contact and close a limitswitch LS2 positioned similarly to LS1. The purpose of the limitswitches LS1 and LS2 will be made clear hereinafter.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 'and.3, a stacking table 74 is positionedbeneath the rotary catch pans and comprises an endless conveyor 76entrained about a driving-roll g 78, an idler roll 89, and a pluralityof small'diarneter idler 'rolls 82, which form with the endless conveyorthe upper surface of the table 74. The driving roll 78 is drivenby acontinuously driven'motor 84through gears 86 and 88 and'a clutch andbrake unit' 90. Positioned adjacent to the table 74 and approximately'parallelto the direction of movement of the endless conveyor 76, is

a removalconveyor 92 driven by a roll 94. The driving means for the roll94 may be provided by a gear train,

not shown," driven by the continuously driven motor 84, if desired@ Ahuger belt 96, driven by a roll 98, is posi- 92 so that it engagesthe'to'p shingle of a bundle of shingles in order to keep the bundleproperly aligned.

The clutch andbrakeunit ,90, which may be similarto the indexing unit58. previously described, may receive an electrical impulse from asuitable circuit activated'by the closing of LS2; The circuit couldinclude-a timer which, after a suitable delay to allow for a .stack of,shingles to be dropped by the rotary icatch pans, would energize arelay, which in-turnwould actuate the clutch and brake unit 90 fordriving the conveyor 76. Upon.

movement of the conveyor 76,.a bundle of shingles supported thereonwould be transferred to the continuously 'tioned a suitable distanceabove the removal conveyor drivenremoval conveyor 92,, which wouldtransport the bundle to. a wrapping station." A limit sWitch LSS-ispositioned in the path of thebundle of shingles as it is transported bythe removal conveyor 92, which switch, upon beingcl'osed by the bundle,serves toopenuthe relay r 1 controllingthe clutch and brake unit 90, andthereby stop movement of the conveyor 76. r

Positioned adjacent the four sides of the table 74 are support plates.on .which stack straightening plates 102 are pivotally mounted" formovement by cylinders 104. Actuation of cylinders 1'84 is-"contr'olledthrough a timing mechanism energized bythe closing of limit switch LS1'by one'of the cams. 70 eachtime rotary catch pan 12 is indexed aquarter turn; Thus, after each stack of shingles is dropped to vthetable74, the straightening plates 102 are actuated to maintain theflstack inproper alignment. Thelplate 102-between the table and the conveyor 92pivots to a horizontal {position when at rest to allow a bundleof'shingles to be transferredto the conveyor 2. The other plates 162.need pivot away fromthestack only about 20-30- i V Straddling thetable'74 and extending approximately perpendicular to the directionofmovement of the conveyor 76, aretwo tracks 106 supportedby'suitablesupporting legsltls. A carriage, 1111 is mounted on thetracks 106-by wheels 1112 for-reciprocating movement along the length ofthetracksfi'Asbest shown in FIGS; 2, 4 and 5, the carriage comprises ashaft 114 on which the wheels 112 are rotatably mounted. The shaft 114is rotatably: mounted in and extends. through the; legs of a generallyC-shapedframe 116. Connected to the midi point of theelongated portionof the C-shaped frame 116 is the piston rod of a cylinder 118 forreciprocating the carriage along the. tracks 18.6. Operation of thecylinder 1181s controlled by a suitablecircuit containing solenoid airvalves and a latching switch, which latching switch is energized after'asuitabledelay by the closing of limit switch LS1 byonevof the :cams .76as the rotary catch pansareindexed a quarterturn. L-shaped frames 122are attached at each side of theC-shaped frame 116 to the ends of thelegstherejof. Carried on support plates 124, which are attached to the--L:shaped fram'es122, are cylinders 126, the piston rods of which carrygear racks 128. Pinion gears 131i, fixed on both ends of the shaft114,-are adapted to mesh with the gear racks 128, so that .uponactuation of the cylinder 126, the pinion gears and the Shafllflll willbe'rotated 180 The cylinder's126 are also controlled by a suitablecircuit containing solenoid air .valves and a latching switch; Anotherlimit switch LS4, mounted in the pathiof travel of the carriage 110 suchthat itfis contacted thereby as the carriage reaches its remoteposition, may actuate the latching switch of the control circuit ofthecylinde'r 126.

A generally rectangular enclosure is formed'by horizoutal cover plates132 andy134 positioned on opposite sides of theshaft 114; The coverplates 132 and 134 are joined by side walls 136 whichare fixedly mountedonthe shaft 114, This enables'theenclosure 'to rotate with the shafti114as it is rotated-by .thegear and rack assembly 128 and 13h. Theenclosure is completed by front and back walls 138 which connect thecover plates 132 and 134. The front anclhack walls 13% extend beyond the.coverplates and are'flared outwardly away frornthe shaft .114. .Thisconstruction proyides forthe shingles to drop onto the cover plates witha minimum of interference from the walls' 138. The extended portionsof'the walls 138also'act as guide ,walls to maintain the shingles inproper alignment. p

Positionedonssuitable supports on opposite sides-of the shaft 114 and ateach endlthereof adjacentthe. side walls 136 are cylinders 142.Thepiston rods of the cylinders 142 extend throughsuitable slots 714,4in/the-front and back walls 138 and are, connected to horizontallydisposed plates146, the lengths of which are; slightly less than thelengthsof walls 138, but the widthsof whichare greater thanthedistancebetweenthe cover plates 132- and 134-. A'plurality offingers-148; Whi'ch. are connected 'to and extend approximatelyperpendicular, to'the plate146 in the direction of the, shaft 114, aremounted for sliding movement.throughslots 154) inithe front and backwalls 138. The ends of the fingers I48 are flared away from the coverplates 132 and 134 so that when the plates 146 and the fingers 14% movefrom open to closed position, the fingers willglide over the top of ashingle stack with a minimum of interference. The cylinders 14?. may becontrolled by a relay actuated by the closing of limit switch LS3, whichis positioned in the path of the movement of the carriage 1143 so thatit is closed by the carriage as it reaches the end of its travel towardits shingle receiving position beneath the rotary catch pans.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5 and particularly to FIG. 6A through 6B,the operation of the shingle stacker will be described. Assume that thecarriage 114 has just moved into position beneath the catch pans 10 and12 as shown in FIG. 6A, and that a bundleof shingles has just beentransferred to the removal conveyor 92. With the carriage in thisposition, .limit switch LS3 is closed and will have energized a relay tomaintain the cylinders 142 in extended position so that the fingers 148will not interfere with a stack of shingles to be dropped onto the coverplate 132. The shingles are continuously fed from the conveyor 14 to therotary catch pans It) and 12 until a predetermined number of shingleshave accumulated therein to form a stack I. Upon receiving a signal fromthe electric eye, the indexing unit 58 is energized and the rotary catchpans are indexed a quarter turn to drop the stack I onto the cover plate132 of the carriage Iii At the end of this indexing movement, the cam'70, attached to the plate 26 which is now in the lower verticalposition, closes the limit switch LS1. This aotuates a timer, which,after a suitable delay to permit the stack of shingles to fall, actuatesthe straightening cylinders 104 to straighten any shingles lying, on thetable '74-. There are no shingles on the table at this point, but thereare after each of the other indexing movements of the rotary catch pansduring rotation thereof through 360. Closing of the limit switch LS1also energizes a latching switch in a suitable circuit for controllingthe cylinder 3113. The cylinder 118 is then retracted to withdraw thecarriage 110 from beneath the catch pans to its remote position. As thecarriage moves away, limit switch LS3 opens and the relay controlledthereby causes the cylinders 142 to retract, thereby closing the fingers148 to hold the shingles of stack I in place.

When the carriage reaches the end of its travel away from the catch pans10 and 12, it contacts limit switch LS4, which energizes a latchingswitch in a suitable circuit to cause the cylinders 126to retract. Thegear and rack arrangement 128, 130 rotates the shaft 114 and theenclosure attached thereto through 180. The carriage 110 is now in theposition shown in FIG. 6B, and the stack I has been inverted from itsoriginal position and is held in place by the fingers 148. Thus, if oneelongated edge of each shingle in the stack I is thicker than theopposite parallel edge, the thicker edge of the shingle stack would nowbe opposite its original position. During this time, a second stack ofshingles II will have collected in the rotary catch pans 10 and 12, asshown in FIG. 6B. The catch pans are again indexed to drop the stack IIto the table '74 and to close limit switch LS1. The cylinder 118 isagain actuated, but in the opposite direction, so that the carriage 110is moved backinto position beneath the catch pans, and the straighteningplates 192 are pivoted up for a short length of time to straighten thestack II. The carriage again contacts limit switch LS3 which actuates arelay to cause the cylinders 142 to move the fingers 148 to openposition, thereby permitting the stack of shingles I to drop on top ofthe stack II, as shown in FIG. 6C. If the thicker edge of the stack 11is at the .right of FIG. 6C, then the thicker edge of stack I will be atthe left, and the combined stacks I and II will form an even, regularstack.

A third stack III will now have accumulated in the rotary catch pans,and upon an indexing movement thereof the stack is dropped into the opencarriage'llt). LS1 is again closed and the carriage goes through thesame sequence of operations as described above until it reaches theposition shown in FIG. 68, at which time four stacks of shingles willhave been dropped onto the table '74.

A fifth stack V, upon indexing of the rotary catch pans, is then droppedinto the open carriage lit), and the limit switch LSll is againactuated. At this indexing movement, however, the cam '72 is nowpositioned so that it contacts and closes the limit switch LS2, whichactuates a suitable timing mechanism and relay to cause the clutch andbrake unit hit to rotate the driving roll 78. This causes the conveyor76 to move the bundle of shingles comprised of stacks I, II, III and IVto the removal conveyor 92;. The conveyor 7e continues to move until thebundle of shingles on the take-off conveyor d2 contacts the limit switchLS5, which opens the relay and deactuates the clutch and brake unit 9%).Thus, after every fourth stack of shingles has been dropped by therotary catch pans I0 and I2, the conveyor '76 will transfer the shinglesto the removal conveyor 92. Because the small stacks of shingles whichcomprise each bundle are alternately inverted, the thicker elongatededges of the shingles are compensated for, and the final bundle is ofeven, regular shape.

It should be understood that the relatively small stacks of shinglesformed in the catch pans may comprise any de sired number of shingles,and that, if desired, the timing of the operations could be adjusted sothat every third or fourth stack is inverted, instead of every otherstack as described above.

It should be further understood that the invention is not limited to thespecific embodiment disclosed but may be modified in a number of ways.For example, instead of providing latching switches in the circuitswhich control cylinders 113 and 126, an integral program timer could beprovided for controlling all sequential operations of the shinglestacker unit. The cylinders may be either pneumatic or hydraulic, or, ifdesired, solenoids may be substituted therefor. The table '74 may bestationary, with a cylinder actuated reciprocating stack remover, suchas that disclosed in Serial No. 69,905, provided to transfer theshingles from the table to the removal conveyor. If desired, the numberof cylinders 126 and 142 may be reduced, and appropriate mechanicallinkages provided where necessary.

Obviously, many modifications of the present invention are possible inthe light of the foregoing disclosure, and such modifications areintended to fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

' What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for stacking flexible shingles transported on a conveyor,comprising (a) means for receiving said shingles from said conveyor andforming them into relatively small stacks;

(b) means for causing said receiving means to intermittently drop saidstacks;

(c) means for receiving only every other dropped stack and inverting thesame;

((1) means for causing said latter means to drop said v inverted stacksin timed relation to the operation of 'the first mentioned stackreceiving means; and

(e) a table positioned to receive said stacks of shingles,

whereby a relatively large stack comprising alternately inverted smallstacks is formed on the table.

2. Apparatus for stacking flexible shingles transported on a conveyor,comprising i (a) means for receiving said shingles from said con- ,veyorand forming them into relatively small stacks;

(b) means for causing said receiving means to intermittently drop saidstacks;

(c) means for receiving only predetermined dropped stacks and invertingthe same;

(d) means for causing said latter means to drop said.

inverted stacks in timed relation to the operation of the firstmentioned stack receiving means; and

(a) means for receiving said shingles from said conveyor and formingthem into relatively small stacks; (b) means for causing said receivingmeans to intermittently drop said stacks; (c) carriage means; a (d)means for intermittently reciprocating said carriage means to aposition'beneath said receiving means in timed relation tothe droppingof said stacks to receive predetermined stacks;

(e) means-on said carriage means for inverting said predeterminedstacks;

(f) means for'causing said carriage means to drop said inverted stacksWhile positioned beneath the receiving means in timed relation to theoperation of said stack receiving means; and (g) a table positioned toreceive said stacks of shingles, whereby a relatively large stack isformed on the table of the'relatively small stacks, the predeterminedsmall stacks being inverted.

4. Apparatusfor stacking flexible shingles transported on a conveyor,comprising (a) means for receiving said shingles from said conveyor andforming them into relatively small stacks;

(b) means for causing said receiving means to intermittently drop saidstacks;

(c) carriage means;

(d) means for intermittently reciprocating said carriage means to aposition beneath said receiving means tin timed relation to the droppingof said stacks to receive predetermined stacks;

(e) means for inverting said predetermined stacks when the carriagemeans is outof shingle receiving position;

(f) means for causing saidcarriage means to drop an inverted stack atsubstantially the same time that it receives another predeterminedstack; and

(g) a table positionedto receive said stacks of shingles, whereby arelatively large stack is formedton the table, of the relatively smallstacks, the predetermined small stacks being inverted 5. Apparatus forstacking flexible shingles transported I c on a conveyor, comprising (e)means operable when the carriage meansis in remote position for rotatingthe predeterminedfstack on said carriage through 180 to invert saidstack;

(f) means for causing said carriagemeans to drop an inverted stack atsubstantially the same time. it is receiving ianother predetermined.stack; and V (g) a table positioned to receive said stacks of shingles,

whereby a relatively large stack is formed on :the

table of the relatively small stacks, the predetermined small 'st-acksbeing inverted. r

6. Apparatus for stackingfiexible shingles transported on aconveyor,comprising i t (a) means for receiving said shinglesfrom said'con--veyor and forming them into relatively small stacks;

(b) means'for causing said receiving means to intermittently dropsaidostacks;

(c) carriage means; V

(d) means for intermittently reciprocating said carriage means between ashingle receiving position beneath said receiving means and a positionremote therefrom,

said reciprocating means operating in timed relation to the dropping ofsaidstacks in order to'receive predetermined stacks;

(e) means operable when the carriage is out of shingle receivingposition toflhold said predetermined stacks,

said latter means releasing said stacks when the carriage is inshingler'eceiving position, i g

(f) means operable when the carriage means is in remote position forrotating-the predetermined'stack on said carriag'e'through180 to invertsaid stack;

(g) means for causing said carriage means to drop said invertedstacks'at'substantially the same time it is receiving another;predetermined stack; and

(h) a table positioned to receive said stacks'of shingles, whereby arelatively large, stack is formed on the table of the relatively smallstacks, the predetermined small stacks being inverted. I

.7. A method for stacking shingles transported on a conveyor,comprising'the steps of (a) forming relatively smalltstacks of shingles;

(b) intermittently dropping said stacks onto a support;

(c) catching predetermined'stacks and inverting'them, the other droppedstacks being permitted to fall to thesupporn and (d) dropping saidinvertedstacks to said support in timed relation to the dropping of theother stacks to said support, whereby a relatively large stack is formedon said support including the inverted predetermined stacks. V p f 8. Amethod for stacking shingles transported on a conveyor, comprising thesteps of t (a) forming relatively small stacks of shingles;

(b) intermittently dropping saidrstacks; f

(c) catching predetermined stacks of shingles and withdrawingthem' fromthe path of droppingstacks;

(d) inverting said withdrawn stacks; V

(efpermitting,the othertstacksto fall to a support; and

(f).'dropping said inverted @SiilCkS .to'said support in timedrelation-to'th e dropping ,of and ,in the same location as, the 'oth'e'rstacks, whereby a relatively large stack is formed on said supportincluding the inverted predetermined stacks. p

9. 'In a method for stacking shingles transported on a conveyor, thesteps of V V V (a) forminga relatively small stack of shingles;

(b) dropping said stack; 7

(c) c'atchin'gtsaid stack and inverting it;

(d) forming a second relatively small stack of shingles;

' (e) dropping said second stack to a support; and

(f) dropping said inverted stack'on top of the previ-' ously droppedsecond stack to form at least part of a'relativel-y large stack ofshingles,- V

10. In a method for stacking shingles transported on a conveyor, thesteps of 7 a p (a) forminga relatively small stack of shingles;

(b):dropping said'stack; i i I (c) catching said sta'ckand withdrawingit from the path'of'the dropping stacks;

(d) inverting said'withdrawn' stacks;

(e) forming a second relatively sm'all'stack'of shingles;

(f) dropping said second stack to. a support;

(g) moving said invertedstack' over the previously dropped second stack;and Q 7 e (h) dropping said'inve'rted stack on top of the previouslydropped second stackt'to form at least part ofra;

relatively largestack of shingles. 7

11. In an apparatusfor stacking flexibleshingles, tran sported on aconveyor, 7 p 7 t p i Y (a) a carriage adapted to reciprocatesnbstantiallyhorizontally between a position beneath a shingle stackforming means and a position remote therefrom, said carriage comprising(b) a main frame;

(c) a second frame rotatably mounted about a substantially horizontalaXis on said main frame;

(d) means carried by said second frame for receiving a stack ofshingles;

(e) means movably mounted on said shingle stack receiving means forholding a stack of shingles therein; and

(f) means on said main frame to rotate said second frame through 180thereby inverting a stack of shingles held in place on the second frameby the stack holding means.

12. In an apparatus for stacking flexible shingles transported on aconveyor,

(a) a carriage adapted to reciprocate substantially horizontally betweena position beneath a shingle stack forming means and a position remotetherefrom, said carriage comprising (b) a main frame;

(c) a second frame rotatably mounted about a substantially horizontalaxis on said main frame;

(d) means carried by said second frame for receiving a stack ofshingles;

(e) means movably mounted on said shingle stack receiving means forholding a stack of shingles therein;

(f) means carried by said second frame for moving said stack holdingmeans between a holding position and a releasing position; and

(g) means on said main frame to rotate said second frame through 180when the stack holding means is in holding position, thereby inverting astack of shingles held on the second frame by the stack holding means.

13. Apparatus for stacking on a conveyor, comprising (a) means forreceiving shingles from said conveyor and forming them into relativelysmall stacks;

(b) means for causing said receiving means to intermittently drop saidstacks;

(c) carriage means;

(d) the carriage means comprising a main frame and a second framerotatably mounted on said main frame;

(e) means on the second frame for receiving a stack of shingles;

(f) means for intermittently reciprocating said carflexible shinglestransported riage means between a shingle receiving position beneathsaid receiving means and a position remote therefrom, said reciprocatingmeans operating in timed relation to the dropping of said stacks tocause the shingle receiving means in the second frame to receivepredetermined stacks of shingles;

(g) means on said main frame and operable when the carriage means is inremote position for rotating the second frame through 180 to invert thestacks carried thereby;

(l1) means for causing said second frame to drop an inverted stack atsubstantially the same time it is receiving another predetermined stack;and

(i) a table positioned to receive said stacks of shingles, whereby arelatively large stack is formed on the table of the relatively smallstacks, the predetermined small stacks being inverted.

14. Apparatus for stacking flexible shingles transported on a conveyoras recited in claim 13 including additional.- 20 -ly, means movablymounted on said shingle stack receiving means for holding a stack ofshingles therein.

15. Apparatus for stacking flexible shingles comprising,

(a) means for intermittently dropping relatively small stacks ofshingles fed thereto,

(b) means for receiving and supporting stacks of shingles dropped fromthe dropping means;

(c) means for receiving predetermined dropped stacks before they reachthe first mentioned receiving means and rotating the stacks about ahorizontal axis, and

(6) means for dropping the rotated stacks to the location on thefirst-mentioned receiving means where the stacks which have not beenrotated are located, whereby the relatively small stacks form arelatively large stack on the first mentioned receiving means, thepredetermined small stacks being inverted with respect to the otherstacks.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS HUGO o. SCHULZ,Primary Examiner. ERNEST A. FALLER, IR., Examiner.

15. APPARATUS FOR STACKING FLEXIBLE SHINGLES COMPRISING, (A) MEANS FORINTERMITTENTLY DROPPING RELATIVELY SMALL STACK OF SHINGLES FED THERETO,(B) MEANS FOR RECEIVING AND SUPPORTING STACKS OF SHINGLES DROPPED FROMTHE DROPPING MEANS; (C) MEANS FOR RECEIVING PREDETERMINED DROPPED STACKSBEFORE THEY REACH THE FIRST MENTIONED RECEIVING MEANS AND ROTATING THESTACKS ABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXIS, AND (D) MEANS FOR DROPPING THE ROTATEDSTACKS TO THE LOCATION ON THE FIRST-MENTIONED RECEIVING MEANS WHERE THESTACKS WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN ROTATED ARE LOCATED, WHEREBY THE RELATIVELYSMALL STACKS FORM A RELATIVELY LARGE STACK ON THE FIRST MENTIONEDRECEIVING MEANS, THE PREDETERMINED SMALL STACKS BEING INVERTED WITHRESPECT TO THE OTHER STACKS.